Dodgers: Joc Pederson’s Journey Back to the Home Run Derby

2017 World Series–2019: The Comeback Kid

Upon making the 2017 World Series roster, Pederson could not have expected to be asked to play a major role after seeing only 5 ABs in the NLCS and after being left off of the NLDS roster entirely. Yet Pederson ended up coming up with one of the key images of what was a disappointing series for the Dodgers and performing well overall.

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After sitting in Game 1, Pederson collected one hit in each game for the rest of the series, including home runs in Game 2, Game 4, and Game 7, with the Game 4 and Game 6 homers helping extend the series for the Dodgers.

And with those home runs, Pederson placed himself firmly back within the good graces of Dodgers fans and management for the 2018 season, something Pederson took advantage of.

In 2018, Pederson finished up with his most games played, 148, since his rookie year, with 25 home runs and a .248 average, similar to his 25 home run, .246 average season in 2016. It was a big rebound for Joc, securing his role on the Dodgers as a fixture in the lineup against any righty foolish enough to throw him a fastball near the plate.

All that brings us to 2019, a season in which Pederson has thrived in the same platoon role, knocking 20 home runs in the first half (sound familiar? cough cough *2015 first half* cough), with his .241/.336/.525 triple-slash line nearly earning him a bid back to the All-Star game.